Today in Minot

Williston City Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk has stepped down after receiving threats against himself and his family. Cymbaluk, a 16-year public servant, cited safety as his top priority in a resignation letter read at the May 13 city commission meeting. Mayor Howard Klug praised Cymbaluk’s leadership through the city’s rapid growth and the COVID-19 pandemic. Interim appointments have been made to maintain city operations, with plans underway to appoint a new commissioner to serve the remainder of Cymbaluk’s term through June 2026. Edward Segal with KX News has the full story.

Across six states, campgrounds, boat ramps, and visitor centers at federal lakes and reservoirs are facing closures or reduced hours as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tightens operations. Budget constraints and a federal hiring freeze under President Trump’s administration are driving the move, with officials saying the focus is on maintaining core services where possible. Local communities, from South Dakota to Kansas, worry about tourism impacts and lost access, though many visitors say they still plan to enjoy the outdoors despite the changes. John Hanna with Associated Press has the full story.

Army Corps to Close or Reduce Services at Several North Dakota Recreation Sites Starting May 1

As data centers grow to meet soaring demand from AI, cloud computing, and streaming, cooling those powerful servers has become a challenge. Rochester-based LiquidCool Solutions offers an innovative answer: submerging electronics in a special non-conductive fluid that cuts energy use by up to 40%. Beyond efficiency, the captured heat can be reused for homes or businesses. A new partnership in St. Cloud will test the system on a larger scale, marking a critical step for Minnesota’s push to lead in energy innovation.

How Finland Is Harvesting Waste Heat From Data Centers

North Dakota student leaders say they have a lot of unanswered questions after lawmakers passed a law requiring schools to be cellphone-free.

Members of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Student Cabinet met Wednesday in Bismarck to discuss new legislation that will affect students.

Senate Bill 2354, which takes effect Aug. 1, prohibits public school students from having access to cellphones and other electronic devices in school from “bell to bell.”

But the students raised a lot of questions lawmakers may not have considered. Some students said laptops provided by schools are “horrible” and wondered if they could continue using personal laptops to do school work.

Another student said she views digital versions of her textbooks on a tablet so she doesn’t have to carry heavy textbooks all day.

Yet another student said she’ll miss using her phone to access the digital calendar she uses to keep track of homework, after-school practices and appointments.

“I see a lot of uncertainties with a lot of the exceptions the students were bringing up,” said Bridger Rivinius, a junior at Gackle-Streeter Public School. “I feel like it might be a slight overreach for the state government to have to be involved with that.”

Gov. Kelly Armstrong was among the supporters of the bill. He has said it will help the next generation of students emotionally and academically.
The law requires cellphones to be silenced and stowed away in an inaccessible location during the school day. It gives school boards flexibility to craft their own policies around school-related noninstructional time, such as dances and sporting events.

It also mandates that school districts collect data to measure the impact of the new policy on student behavior, mental health, disciplinary incidents, school attendance and academic performance.

Gwyn Marback, a facilitator for the student Cabinet, said she expects there will be some “fumbles” as school boards try to address issues with their new policies.

“They (state lawmakers) didn’t think of everything,” Marback said. “Hopefully, there’s common sense when things arise.”

Sophia Johnson, a sophomore at Bismarck Legacy High School, said her school has an open campus policy that allows students to leave school during lunch or a free period, which could be an issue in implementing the policy at her school.

“It might be a bit of a disaster,” Johnson said. “We have the open campus and we really want to focus on the 21st Century learning and that involves using our phones.”

She said some courses, such as media class, require students to use their phones to participate.

“All of that stuff is going to be really inhibited by this,” Johnson said. “It really should be up to the teachers because they know their students the best. They know what’s happening in their classrooms and they know how to work their students.”

Aidan Pelton, a senior at Watford City High School, said his school already implemented a zero tolerance cellphone policy. He said kids still have their phones in school, but fewer than before the policy was implemented.

“I like the bill. I just think there’s going to be a lot of problems with it,” Pelton said. “I don’t really love the less control at the school level. But, I think it is overall a good thing to have no phones in schools.”

Addyson Rademacher-Nyame, an eighth grader at Mandan Middle School, testified in favor of the legislation at the Capitol. She said she finds it encouraging that each school board will be able to craft its own policy.

“It’s going to be very interesting, especially this first try. It’s going to be good to see the positive and negative results of it right away,” Rademacher-Nyame said.

She said legislative fixes might be needed during the 2027 session to address problems that arise from implementing the bill.

“Every school in North Dakota is different,” she said. “I want to see every angle about how every school developed and adapted to this bill and we’ll go from there.”

A new push in Congress could dramatically reshape the nation’s education funding landscape. A House committee advanced a plan to offer $5 billion annually in tax credits to those donating to private and religious school scholarship programs. Supporters call it a lifeline for families stuck in failing schools; critics argue it opens the door to federal subsidies for private education, siphoning resources from public schools and weakening protections for students with disabilities. The debate signals growing national tension over the future of school choice. Shauneen Miranda with North Dakota Monitor has the full story.

Minot’s long-running flood control effort just got a major boost. Lawmakers approved $81.1 million for construction over the next two years—slightly ahead of past commitments and part of a nearly $200 million package when combined with federal and local funding. Projects include finishing work at Roosevelt Park and the zoo, and launching the complex Maple Diversion project near active rail lines. Officials say inflation pressures have eased and remain committed to rejecting overpriced bids to protect taxpayers while keeping progress on track.

North Dakota’s measles outbreak has climbed to 12 cases, with the latest reported in Williams County. Health officials are closely monitoring exposures, including at Williston’s Band Day Parade and a local Tractor Supply store. The outbreak has led to quarantines for about 150 unvaccinated students in Williston schools. Officials stress that while most vaccinated individuals are protected, falling vaccination rates since the pandemic have increased risks. Measles can be serious, especially for young children, and early vaccination is now urged in affected areas. Grant Coursey with Bismarck Tribune has the full story.

Just outside Ellendale, North Dakota, a massive data center project is reshaping the prairie. Applied Digital is building a 2.2 million-square-foot campus to power AI data storage and cryptocurrency mining, drawn by the area’s abundant energy. While some residents worry about potential noise, water use, and power strains, early signs show minimal impact. Local leaders, including Mayor Don Flaherty, see it as a rare chance for long-term growth. For many, the mood is summed up simply: change is here, let’s make it work. Michael Anhalt with KFYR has the full story.

After a century as the Dickinson Midgets, students in Dickinson, North Dakota, are making history by choosing a new mascot. With votes from grades five through twelve, the finalists are down to the Mavericks and the Defenders. While students acknowledge the weight of retiring a long-standing identity, many say the change reflects a necessary step forward. The school colors will remain orange and black, but the community awaits Friday’s announcement to see which name will lead them into a new era of school pride. Jody Kerzman with KFYR has the full story.

A single phrase—“patchwork of state laws”—is at the heart of a new push by Big Tech and congressional Republicans to block states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade. Tucked into a sweeping federal bill, the provision would leave only Washington in charge of AI oversight. Critics argue that states have often stepped in where federal action has lagged, protecting consumers from privacy violations, discrimination, and misinformation. Stripping that authority, they say, would hand tech giants a regulatory free pass. Pat Garofalo writing on Substack as Boondoggle has the full warning.

For the first time in decades, the U.S. saw a dramatic drop in drug overdose deaths, with 30,000 fewer lives lost in 2024 compared to the year before. The CDC credits expanded access to naloxone, better addiction treatment, and billions from opioid settlements. While experts urge caution, calling it too soon to declare victory, many see signs of progress in a crisis that has devastated communities for years. Advocates warn that continued funding and public health efforts remain critical to maintain momentum. Mike Stobbe with Associated Press has the full story.

Norway has a new kind of explorer. Jannicke Mikkelsen etched her name in history as the first astronaut with only Norwegian citizenship to reach space, commanding the private SpaceX Fram2 mission. The journey wasn’t just orbital; it soared over both the North and South poles, capturing rare footage of the auroras. Mikkelsen’s mission bridged Norway’s legacy of polar exploration with the vastness of space, proving not only national pride but also that women can lead where few have ever gone. Her safe return capped an extraordinary achievement. Line Klevmo Beumer with The Norwegian American has the full story.

Buried deep in a sprawling congressional spending bill is a provision that could freeze state regulation of artificial intelligence for a decade. Backed by Trump and House Republicans, the measure aims to ease federal adoption of AI by blocking states from enforcing any laws on AI or automated decision systems. Critics warn it hands Big Tech a free pass, stripping states of their role as watchdogs over privacy and consumer protections. The outcome of this fight may quietly shape the next decade of AI in America.